Fiji > Shopping in Sigatoka

When I walk to breakfast in the morning, I am warmly greeted with “Bula, Bula.” All the staff are equally friendly. “How was your first night, Ronald?” they ask. They even remember my name. Do they know this for every guest? At the reception, we check the excursion options. We think it would be fun in the coming days to take a trip on a sailing ship, including snorkeling on one of the islands. While we are deciding between the different tour operators, all the receptionists get involved. A cheerful scene. With our car, we drive to Sigatoka, the largest town in the area. For this, we follow the Queens Road. Actually, Fiji’s road network is very straightforward. There is one main road, the Queens Road, that runs around the island, and all the towns are accessible via mostly unpaved gravel roads.

Fiji - The view from the cabin in Fiji

On the way to Sigatoka, we also pass Cuvu. We see a large sign pointing to the resort where we had originally booked. We decide to go take a look. We turn onto the road. A gravel road leads toward the sea. After a few kilometers, the road is blocked. Some tree trunks lie across the way. We cannot reach the resort. We try another road to get to the sea. This road also has challenges. A huge puddle covers the main path. It seems previous travelers created a new path. We take this route as well. Further along, the road bends and meets an abandoned railway track. We follow the rails and arrive at a small beach at Cuvu Bay—a horseshoe-shaped sandy beach. We are completely alone here. From the little beach, the railway disappears between the rocks. We reverse the car into a small cave for a video and then drive back along the same road to the Queens Road. Sigatoka is a lively town. There is activity everywhere. Police officers try desperately to keep traffic under control. We look for an ATM. The third machine we try gives Fiji dollars. We buy water, a travel adapter, and order cappuccinos at a terrace. We drive a short distance back to Cuvu. For tomorrow’s boat trip, we still need to notify them that we are staying at a different hotel. Before we know it, we have driven out of the village again. On the second attempt, we turn onto a side road. We follow it all the way to the end but see no beach or fishing trip organizer. Just as we are about to give up—we could always just call—we speak to a man at the edge of the village. He tries to explain the route. “I’ll come with you,” he says, “then I can show you the way.” That’s easier. A little later, we turn onto a small side road, and at the very end is Sigatoka Fishing Charters. We thank our guide warmly. Without him, we never would have found it. On the edge of Cuvu lies the upscale Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort. The bar bistro we had seen on the map of Fiji belongs to the resort. Upon entering the peninsula, the gate opens immediately. “Bula, Bula,” we are greeted again. We park the car and walk into the resort. Numerous tourists enjoy themselves on the beach. It looks like a fairly large resort. From the bistro terrace, we look out over the sea. In the afternoon, we drive back to our own accommodation. I take a dip in the sea. As I wade in the water, I try to remember if I have ever swum in the Pacific Ocean before. I cannot recall. Toward dusk, I exchange the seawater for the terrace. It’s time for a Fiji Gold Beer. It’s just happy hour at the bar. Afterwards, I have dinner in the restaurant.